mehtaal

THere aren't too many unfriendly places in the States. I have lived in NYC for 5 years now- moved from Texas after 20 years! It was quite a change, but I have never really thought of New Yorkers as unfriendly, with the exception of JohnWM who must be the only ignorant, offensive and rude New Yorker. Its a shame Fodors allows people like you to respond to anything.

NativeNewYorker

I say "that goes around, comes around." There are lots of friendly people in many places, EVEN New York (although maybe not too many cabbies!)

andiamo

SAB:

Amen! On the homeless situation in SF!

And onthego919:

Thanks again for the compliment on the friendliness of SF people. It was kind of you to take the time to not only notice this, but to comment on it!

May all your holidays be just as happy and friendly!!

Andiamo

Brian_in_Charlotte

Is it true that SF, until recently, paid a stipend of up to $400 a month to the homeless in the city? If that's even close to true, no wonder they have the problem they do now!

Having recently spent 10 years intown Atlanta, I completely understand the difficulty of addressing the homeless situation. Numerous attempts to crack down on the problem in Atlanta ran into political roadblocks.

I'm not sure what a city with a major homeless problem like SF or Atlanta can do to fix it, but this sure should be a warning to other cities who are on the cusp of having a homeless problem. Address it now, before it's too late.

onthego919

While I know that many homeless choose not to help themselves, and take advantage of the generosity of others, it's still hard to just walk by some of them. For example, the woman we saw sleeping on Jones street whose feet were red, swollen, and covered with sores.

Nebraska

We spent extensive time in the City by the Bay a few years back when our son was treated at UCSF. We loved the city, always felt safe and had such a sense of graciousness from the people of SF. As I write my 18 year old daughter is now traveling in SF, she visited Grace Cathedral, the Wharf and China Town today. Is having a lovely time but was scolded for asking a question of a bus driver, followed by the bus driver making fun of her to other riders, and was called a stupid white girl when she offered her seat on the bus stop to an older woman. I hate to think the city I left my heart in is becoming less civil.
Any thoughts from other recent travlers?

LoveItaly

Hi Nebraska, I am so sorry that your
daughter was treated so rudely. I do not use the busses in SF, never have, except for one time when a friend and I were going to take some friends from Italy around SF and we decided not to drive as we were going to have cocktails. My SF friend asked the busdriver about transferes and we got screamed at! And screamed at! We were so shocked that we all started having a nervous laughter and I honestly thought we were going to get thrown off the bus. Obviously SF Muni drivers are not SF's shining stars. BTW, we used taxis the rest of the day.

About the other incident, I would assume the name she was called was by a young thug. I hope your daughter is being a bit cautious as to which areas she goes to. And sure hope she does not have any more bad incidents. Most people in SF are very nice but there is always a few that aren't, just like anywhere else.

TransitBuddie

I take Muni everyday and have only seen one or two incidents where Muni drivers were rude. I'm sorry to hear about that. If I were to see that kind of behaviour, I would probably write down the bus number and report it (well probably not, but it's always an option...).

LoveItaly

Hi TransitBuddie, after we settled down for lunch we thought the same thing, we should have gotten the bus number and filed a report. But we didn't. One thing I will say, I have always had great taxi drivers, even if I have had to tell them how to get somewhere sometimes. They always seem
so polite and pleasant.

SFImporter

People having bad days aside, the biggest bonus of living in San Francisco is the tolerance.

People come here from all over the world because they can be who they want to be without being judged for it.

Gay? Come on down.
Transexual? Come live it up.
Trust-fund baby? We've got room.
Holy-roller? We've got churches for you!

Heck, I even have some neighbors who are (gasp!) Republican!

For the most part, we are a live and let live kind of place. And above all we stress our citizen's rights for equal treatment under the law.

Onthego919 - glad you had a good time.
Everyone else - if you haven't been, come out and see us sometime.

FainaAgain

I've been using public transportation for 15 years, different bus lines. Never heard any disparaging comments about people vacating their seats. Usually I seat or stand in the front half of the bus. I think the accident you've described may've happened in the back where younger generation sometimes misbehaves.

As for bus drivers... seen everything, from plain rude to going off a couple of blocks so a person with a walker doesn't have to walk far.

LoveItaly, this will not happen again - from January 1, 2005 every passenger must have proof of payment, so the drivers now must give transfers. Maybe I should take you on a bus city tour

LoveItaly

Hey Faina, that is funny because I was just thinking the same thing last night! Great minds do work together . Seriously, that would be fun!

I am feeling a bit sick, I think it is from the heat we are having. I wish I was in cool beautiful San Francisco!

LoveItaly

Yes, SF is a very tolerant city but don't you smokers even think about lightening up a cigaret anymore! You will find out about the lack of tolerance on that subject, LOL.

enjoylife

I lived in San Francisco for a few years and did not find everyone to be overly friendly.

I just got back from New Hampshire, now that's a friendly state!

easytraveler

I was believing everything SFImporter was saying until he/she stated that the neighbors were Republicans.

In a city where the mayorial race was won by a Democrat running against a Green Party candidate, Republicans are as rare as butterflies in the Arctic.

Pretty good, SFImporter, I believed you most of the way! LOL!

I love San Francisco and my favorite New England state is Vermont. All of this, thankfully, having nothing to do with politics.

PamSF

We need Herb Caen on this thread.
He could tell you things about the city that would make you fall in love with it all over again.

Just to offer a refrain to SFImporter's song of praise, I quote a saying from years gone by"San Francisco's my favorite city. The women are tough and the men are pretty".

LoveItaly

LOL PamSF!!! I miss Herb Cain. Did you get to his Celebration Day by any chance! What a fabulous day that was. There will never be another Cain. Of course he moaned about the changes in SF also. Take care.

Kal

What about "Kal Kaen" dot dot dot...?
http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/caen/

"THE HUSTLERS hustling, the bustles bustling, and the usual Three Little Old Ladies from Oakland on their first visit to Enrico's Coffee House. First: "I'll have a -- how do you call it? -- a cup of chino?" Waiter to second: "And what kind of coffee would YOU like?" Second: "Oh -- MJB." Third, more sophisticated: "I'll have your specialty." Waiter: "Espresso?" Third: "I'm not in that much of a hurry. Any old time."""

Anybody remember how to do the "Caen Fold"? dot dot dot...

My high school art teacher taught me an even greater appreciation for art AND turned me on to Herbie in '67. Thank you, Mr. Young.

While Herb's son Chris tries to carry on, he's like Frank Sinatra Jr. Just not quite the Old Man.